SnoothPVA: Wines of South Africa Lunc...
As a teenager, I lived in Africa for several years when my Dad was a contracted Civil Engineer in the Mediterranean seaside city of Alexandria, Egypt. Living in a location with easy access to Europe and the rest of the expansive African Continent allowed us to take some very adventurous vacations, my favorite being a two week safari through Kenya.
In The Glass: King Estate Blackjack B...
I could write endlessly about Oregon Pinot Noir and never tire from it - life is good in the Willamette Valley, especially when I come across Pinots that are as good as this one.
Drink Now: Carabella Magenté Pinot No...
Hailing from Colorado with a firm belief that making wine is all about the vineyard site, winemaker and geologist Mike Hallock searched for twelve years to locate a site he believed to obtain a combination of the best and highest quality Oregon and Burgundy terroirs.
The Divine Iris In My Back Yard
As I walked around my yard this afternoon (enjoying every sip of the incredible King Estate 2009 Blackjack Pinot Noir), I couldn't help but snap a whole bunch of photos of the Iris that are currently in full bloom.
Seven Wines from Seven Vineyards: An ...
As you pull on to Ferry Street in Dayton, Oregon, looking for Seufert Winery in the 3 block core that covers most of Dayton's downtown, don't underestimate the wine that's waiting behind the brick-colored door that leads you into the tasting room, winery and barrel hall - there's a myriad of Pinot Noirs that will undoubtedly swoon your palate.
Streamlining it with Helioterra Wines
My first experience with winemaker Anne Hubatch's Helioterra Wines was of her crisp, fresh and totally focused 2011 Pinot Blanc. I instantly fell in love with the elegant floral and sweet citrus aromas. The mouthfeel was gentle and smooth, and the streamlined minerality was not overpowering, but just perfect. It was different from other Pinot Blancs - feminine, elegant, pure.
SnoothPVA: Terroir Driven Grüner Velt...
With Grüner Veltliner being one of my favorite white wine varietals, imagine my excitement when I found out that one of the Master Classes I'd be attending during the Snooth People's Voice Wine Awards was with famed award-winning Austrian Sommelier, Aldo Sohm, who would focus solely on different styles of Austrian Grüner Veltliners.
A Glimpse Into the 2012 Vintage Orego...
A few weeks ago, when I was in McMinnville to pop the cork on some Pinot Noir that some other wine writers and I blended last summer, I was lucky enough to get a glimpse into the 2012 vintage Pinot Noirs at R. Stuart & Company.
The Frugal Wino: 2012 Big Fire Dry Ro...
This past week, I had the opportunity to take a drive north from my hometown of Eugene, Oregon, to check out the town of McMinnville, which is surrounded by the heart of Oregon wine country. Not only was it a beautiful sunny day to make the drive, but it was exciting to know I'd soon be visiting some of the wineries and tasting rooms located in the town of McMinnville.
#SnoothPVA: Indigenous Varietal Itali...
Straight from an incredible lunch at Salinas, where we experienced the wines of Ribera del Duero, our group of wine writers headed back to the bright white basement of New York City's Altman Building, where we had previously started our day sampling the fresh and zesty wines of Brazil. It was time to sample twelve indigenous Italian white wines, starting with wines from northern Italy and working our way down to the southern Italian regions.
Best Case Scenario: Atticus Willamett...
Two families, each with distinctly different heritages, left the steamy beaches of South Florida for the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley where Atticus became a dream come true. All coming from different backgrounds, Irish, Grecian, Asian and Peruvian, the Insley-Orrego Family and the Porter Family combined their passion for wine to create Atticus
The Frugal Wino: Artisanal Pinot Blan...
My choice of wine is almost always influenced by the weather and this week was no exception. I found a delicious wine that was not only in my price range but was perfect for this early summer weather. This week I chose the 2010 Pinot Blanc by Artisanal Wine Cellars.
3rd Street Flats: The Place To Stay i...
With a quick turn of the key, I entered and found myself in a dining area with high ceilings and a skylight that offered a beam of natural light. Exposed brick walls, gorgeous bamboo flooring and a larger than life daffodil photo (turned into beautiful art) hung on the wall.
In The Glass: Biggio Hamina Zenith Vi...
Biggio Hamina Cellars, located in McMinnville, Oregon, is owned and operated by the very witty winemaker Todd Hamina. If you visit their tasting room and wine bar (which is connected to the winery) and find Todd there, I'm thinking there will be lots of laughs and good times to be had.
#SnoothPVA: Experiencing Spain in New...
From one wine tasting to the next, our group of wine writers that gathered in New York City last month, for the Snooth People's Voice Wine Awards, were lucky enough to be a part of several wine tasting Master Classes that focused on different wine regions around the world. As it just so commonly happens, wherever there is good wine, there is good food.
“There Will Never Be Anywhere L...
First leading us on a tour of the herb and vegetable gardens, where spinach, arugula, artichokes and fava beans (to name a few) are grown and used for culinary creations, Chris then took us through the restaurant and down the stairs to the wine cellar.
In The Glass: Remy Wines Ciel du Chev...
Every now and then, luck is most certainly on my side. On a recent two-day trip to the town of McMinnville, Oregon, I ran into one of my favorite Oregon winemakers: Remy Drabkin of Remy Wines.
Celebrating Earth Day With Willakenzi...
Happy Earth Day! I thought it would be most appropriate, on Earth Day, to pop the cork on a bottle of wine from a winery that is not only named after dirt, but also believes that dirt matters. Yamhill-Carlton's Willakenzie Estate is a small family owned winery located in Oregon's picturesque northern Willamette Valley.
The Allison Inn & Spa – Lu...
The Allison Inn & Spa is, without a doubt, the ultimate place to stay while experiencing Oregon's beautiful wine country. The elegance that exudes from this pristine property is perfectly matched with the elegance of the region's highly acclaimed Pinot Noirs.
#SnoothPVA: Wines of Brazil
Completely unfamiliar with the wines of Brazil, I was pleasantly surprised by these high acid, super fresh wines that are totally terroir driven.
Celebrating Malbec World Day
Malbec World Day, which for me actually turned out to be more like Malbec World Week, is an annual happening that takes place on April 17. For one 24 hour period, wine enthusiasts around the world pop the cork on a bottle of Malbec and celebrate this multi-layered varietal that is chock full of character.
Drink Now: Kramer Vineyards Brut 2010
As I sat white knuckled on the plane and drank way too much of a wine that was grossly unidentifiable, I thought (quite often) of my wine writing colleagues who I knew were most certainly enjoying every sip of their Kramer Vineyards 2010 Brut.
The Frugal Wino: 2009 Three Wives Rem...
I have been a fan of Remy Wines for a while now and am fortunate enough to have found a bottle under $20 that I could share with you all. Like I've said in the past, I love a good red blend. It's not about the 'darker the better' for me necessarily, I just want a blend that can bring out the best in each grape chosen.
#SnoothPVA: Oregon Wine Out Shines th...
Being an Oregonian whose heart belongs to Oregon wine, this was the event of events for me - it was the one I was most looking forward to. With a true affinity and passion for the wines produced in Oregon, I was excited and proud to have the wines of my home state presented to and tasted by some of the top wine writers in the U.S. - I had no doubt I'd soon be reading comments in their blogs like those previously pointed out.
Dinner at Historic Silcox Hut with Wi...
"Willamette Valley Vineyards is having a big to do for Valentine's day, and they invited me to come along but I will be in Napa Valley that week. Want to take my place?"
My 1/2 Day Vacation: Island of Sylt w...
Have you ever heard of the island of Sylt? Until a marketing company in Miami sent me a box of beautifully packaged Syltbar goodies, I had never heard of it. Sylt is an island located off the coast of Germany, near Denmark, that has 25 miles of what some consider to be the finest sandy beaches in the world.
In The Glass: Angela Pinot Noir 2009 ...
With fruit from Clawson Creek Vineyard, which sits next to Ken Wright's highly revered Abbott Claim Vineyard in Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the vintage 2009 Angela Pinot Noir was tasted on a day filled with sampling well over 50 wines, and it is the one that absolutely stood out of the crowd.
#SnoothPVA: Wines of Scarpa
After briefly looking over the list of wines that were poured into the twelve glasses in front of me, I realized I was about to taste some seriously high-caliber wines. Ranging in vintages from 2007 to 1978, with prices from $52 dollars a bottle to $500 dollars a bottle, our weekend of wine tasting was most certainly beginning with a bang - a bang of big, bold Italian Barbera di Astis and Barolos.
Malbec Day and the New Malbec Riedel ...
I love it when I wake up in the morning and find a message in my inbox like this one: “I’m happy to announce...
#SnoothPVA Weekend in New York City
Together with Snooth, our group of wine and food bloggers certainly create a powerful social media voice in the world of wine.
Pinteresting: Grown Up Mac and Cheese
One of my favorite meals on a rainy day is macaroni and cheese - not the kind that comes out of a box. I love experimenting with gourmet cheeses and different types of pastas and meats. From lobster to beef and sandwiches to muffins, it's all good with macaroni and cheese.
Abacela named 2013 Oregon Winery of t...
On March 12th, Abacela was named the “2013 Oregon Winery of the Year” by Wine Press Northwest.
Best Case Scenario: Brooks Winery Jan...
From the pronounced flavors to the perpetual balance, each and every wine I've ever tried from Brooks Winery has been outstanding.
In The Glass: Chateau Montelena 2001 ...
Located in Napa Valley, California, Chateau Montelena is not just known for making incredible wine, but in 1976, when Napa Valley was not-yet known for wine, their 1973 vintage Chardonnay won against the thought-to-be-unbeatable French wines in a blind tasting that took place in Paris.
An Oregon Pinot Noir Enthusiast and L...
Everyone who reads WineJulia.com knows I am not only a devoted wine enthusiast, they also know my wine enthusiasm is...
My 1/2 Day Vacation: Sonoma -Trione V...
Sonoma County, home to one of California’s largest grape growing regions, has multiple famed appellations;...
Pinteresting: My Heart Belongs to Win...
There are two passions, or maybe even obsessions, I have in life: Wine and Airstreams. Weird, right? But it’s...
My 1/2 Day Vacation
I love exploring the wines of the world. As a wine writer, I receive a lot of wine samples from wineries all over the...
Best Case Scenario: Johan Vineyards 2...
On Facebook yesterday, I asked, “Which of these 4 wines should I pop the cork on for the new featured Best Case...
Fine Dining in the Cellar with Domain...
I must admit, I really love my job. Who wouldn’t love attending fabulous food and wine events around the state...
About Me
I've been writing about wine for the South Willamette Wineries Association and Eugene Daily News. I relish in sharing my wine experiences while savoring every sip of every wine.